Covering



T. J. CAHILL.

COVERING.

APPLI CAT|0N man AUG.I3, 1919.

1,357,541 Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

WITNESSES l/VVE/V TOR Thoma SJ C ahi/ A TTOIZWEVS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

. THOMAS J. CAHILL. OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COVERING.

Application filed August 13, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnoaras J. CAHILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Covering, of which the following is a full. clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a wing covering, more particularly adapted for airplanes, which will render a tearing of such covering extremely difficult.

It is well known that when-a small rupture occurs in the covering for the wings of an airplane the velocity of the machine through the air causes thisrupture to increase to such an extent as to disable the machine. very often resulting in the death of the occupants as well as the total destruction of the machine.

In view of the foregoing. I have, as aforestated, designed a covering for the wings of flying machines, and this covering could also be used as an envelop for the ballonnets of a dirigible, and by means of which any hole or tear which might occur in such covering would be prevented from spreading, by confining this tear to a limited area. This strengthening of the covering would not be a temporary one, but would also serve to prevent the spreading of a rupture even although the machine were traveling at great speed against a proportionate amount of air resistance.

Reference is bad to the attached sheet of drawings which illustrates one practical embodiment of my invention,,and in which- Figure 1 illustrates one method of reinforcing the material covering the wings of an airplane; and" Fig. 2 illustrates a modified form thereof- In these views like reference characters indicate similar parts, and the reference numeral 1 designates the covering enveloping the wings of an airplane, such covering being of silk, linen, etc. In this covering, reference being had particularl to Fig. 1, I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Serial No. 317,369.

arrange lines of stitching running at an angle to the weave of the covering, as indicated at 2.

This stitching is preferably so arranged as to produce diagonal squares, which may be of a size proportionate to the size of the covering, and it will readily be appreciated that any rupture commencing at any point in the covering would be restrained from spreading by means of such rows of stitching.

2. it will be seen that I have arranged the stitching in this instance in the form of circles 3. By this arrangement of stitching the; stretching of the material when being applied to an airplane wing is not in the least interfered with, and puckering is eliminated. It will be appreciated that in view of the fact that the weave of the goods covering the wing in this instance would result in a tear running approximately lengthor crosswise to the wing, by virtue of the staggered relation of the circles of stitching one with respect to the other, any tear beginning in such covering will be immediately restrained from spreading.

The value of this; invention may be well appreciated in view of the fact that the same would not only prevent the spreading of ruptures in the covering but would also Referring now more particularly to Fi n prevent the initial breakage of the covering in the event of an airplane landing upon rough water, which usually results in the cover upon the underside of the wing being badly mutilated.

It will be, further understood that any i THOMAS J. CAHILL. 

